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Thursday, May 26, 2016
The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi announced its second season of events, including a 27-hour continuous concert and an underwater performance.
The events, which run until next May, deal with themes of love, war, peace, technology, ritual and the environment.
“Already, we’ve found that audiences are willing and eager to come on weekly artistic adventures to unfamiliar territory with us,” said executive artistic director Bill Bragin.
“It’s through these shared artistic experiences, and the resulting conversations, that we are working to build community in the UAE, and show the role that arts can play — sparking civic dialogue, inspiring, and entertaining.”
The season opens on September 1-2, with Nik Bartsch’s Mobile, a 27-hour, multi-location performance installation of ritual groove music.
In addition, Rooftop Rhythms, the region’s longest-running poetry open mic night, will return for a fifth season on campus. It will take place on the last Friday of every month, starting September.
On November 16-19, performers will get inside a human-sized aquarium which floods and re-floods as part of a performance installation dubbed Holoscenes, which provides commentary on global warming and rising water levels.
Below is a full list of announced events taking place between September, 2016 and May, 2017. Artists and dates are subject to change. For more information, check out nyuad-artscenter.org. Free ticket reservations will open approximately two weeks before most events.
September
On September 1-2, Nik Bartsch’s Mobile will put on a 27-hour, multi-location performance installation of ritual groove music.
On September 8-9, a Belgian-Palestinian collaboration called Badke will combine traditional dabke with contemporary dance and circus to a score by Nasser Al Faris.
On September 21-22, Kuwaiti artist Zahed Sultan and Brazil’s DJ Dolores will share a bill.
October
On October 6 and 7, a two-part Filipino-themed event called Disco Manila will take place, including 70s music and live band karaoke.
On October 12-15, an experimental adaptation of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz titled Yellow Brick Road will take place.
On October 27, Driss Ll Maloumi and Debashish Battacharya join Moroccan oud mastery with the sounds of Hindustani slide guitar.
November
On November 2-3, Stew and Heidi Rodewald’s Notes Of A Native Song will put forward a “concert novel” from Tony-Award winning creators of Passing Strange, inspired by playwright James Baldwin.
On November 16-19, performers will get inside a human-sized aquarium which floods and re-floods as part of a performance installation dubbed Holoscenes, which provides commentary on global warming and rising water levels.
On November 25-28, Arab Voices: Here/There/Then/Now will celebrate contemporary Arab theatre and feature staged readings of work by Arab and Arab-American playwrights.
December
December 5, Hekayah | The Story will return for a second year, showcasing Emirati and UAE culture as part of a National Day celebration.
February
On February 2, chamber ensemble Bang on a Can All-Stars bring together classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental music in their UAE debut. They will perform a piece written for them by Emirati-American composer Mohammed Fairouz.
On February 8-9, the theme of human vs. machine will be explored through an original music theatre production based on the folk legend of steel-driver John Henry.
On February 16-17, a weekend of festivities will revolve around global sounds, including North to West Africa on the first day and Ukrainian “ethno chaos” on the second.
On February 24-25, Trisha Brown: In Plain Site, a site-specific program of Brown’s pioneering post-modern dance, will take place in unexpected locations around the campus.
March
On March 2-4, Imagine Science Abu Dhabi will return to NYUAD to highlight voices in science, art and film in the region, including a film festival.
On March 14, An Iliad, a solo play featuring Tony Award winner Denis O’Hare will retell Homer’s epic poem of love and battle, as adapted by Lisa Peterson and O’Hare.
On March 30-31, Vijay Iyer will perform with the International Contemporary Ensemble. They will accompany the film Radhe Radhe (Rites Of Holi), inspired by Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
April
On April 6-7, Antigona, Martin Santangelo’s adaptation of Sophocles’ classic play about the authority and patriarchy of the state, will be told through flamenco song and dance.
May
On May 11-12, the season will end with a family-friendly event. Montreal-based scratch DJ Kid Koala will present a live cinema production using puppets, turntables, and a string quartet, as part of Nufonia Must Fall, a wordless story about robots in love.
Staff Report
Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.
